Bloodshot by New York Times bestseller Fred Van Lente is a fresh and engaging take on the legendary Valiant comic book character by the same name. The novel is truly for longtime fans of Bloodshot and those, like myself, new to the tales of the action-packed tales.
He wakes up in the middle of the woods with chalk-white skin, the ability to heal from any injury, and no memory of who or what he is. He is Bloodshot, and now he’s caught between the shadowy defense contractor that wants to capture him, and the underground network of psychic teens that want to destroy him.
Now, Kalea, the girl who found him, has a target on her back just for trying to help him. To save himself and his friends, Bloodshot must stay alive long enough to unravel the mystery of his own identity—and deal with the real possibility that his own family are the ones who most want him dead.
Until I stumbled upon Van Lente’s latest Bloodshot novel, I had never had the real desire to dive into the stories of the iconic Valiant character. With the number of comics I currently read, on top of novels and other stuff, I felt like adding a new book to my pull list was just not in the cards. Now, after briskly reading Bloodshot, I may have been persuaded to pick up a few Bloodshot comics during my next trip to my local comic shop.
Van Lante’s story is truly accessible to most fans of comics or action-packed tales. Entering with no real knowledge, outside that Bloodshot is a Valiant character, I felt like I was able to slide right in and enjoy the story for what it was—an action-packed superhero tale with plenty of mystery. The author crafted a novel that is for those who are new to the character while also making sure to keep the universe true to the comics (once I finished the story, I did some research). This makes for a great jumping on point for those looking to find out more about the Valiant comics world.
While Van Lente takes an iconic character to adds a bit of a twist to the lore, the overall story is true to form. The novel format allowed the author to crafter a longer story without the constraints of a 22-page floppy comic. While comics are a stellar way to tell a tale, sometimes the story is meant to be told in a different form and it felt like this Bloodshot tale was destined for prose storytelling. Van Lente tells a story with vivid visuals and plenty of action that comic fans are used to when opening up their monthly books.
In the end, Fred Van Lente’s Bloodshot delivers more than just explosive action sequences—it provides introspection wrapped within suspenseful storytelling that appeals beyond traditional comics alone. Van Lente crafted a story that goes beyond the character’s origins and allows newcomers to Bloodshot a place to jump in and enjoy the ride. Whether you are a longtime fan looking to dive into another Bloodshot escaped or a newcomer trying to find out what this iconic characters is all about, Van Lente’s latest novel is a good place to be.
Bloodshot hits bookstores everywhere on January 21, 2025 from Blackstone Publishing. The audiobook, narrated by James Fouhey, is available at Libro.fm!
